How to Say 'Hello' in Italian

Andrew Smith - Updated September 29, 2017

There are as many ways to say "hello" in Italian as there are moods to say it in. Appropriately categorized among the Romance languages -- the direct descendants of Latin -- Italian has an emotional, lyrical quality that can fill the simplest phrase with passion. When you greet someone in Italian, don't just pronounce the words, savor them.

Say “salve” (pronounced "sal-vey") if you wish to say “hello,” or “ciao” (pronounced "chow") for a simple, less formal “hi.”

References

About the Author

Andrew Smith has been a freelance writer since 2006, specializing in sports and technology. His work has appeared on various online sites. Smith has a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Pennsylvania State University.